They started work on Base Camp Brewing in summer of 2011 and this weekend is its long awaited grand opening. The party happens at the brewery, 930 S.E. Oak St., 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. today and Saturday. It may not be the best weather for checking out the excellent patio, but expect some good Base Camp beers such as the In-Tents India Pale Lager, which is also available in 22-ounce bottles.

LOOWIT BREWING GRAND OPENING

4 - 10 p.m. Friday, Loowit Brewing Co., 507 Columbia St., Vancouver;

Loowit Brewing opened its brewery and taproom recently in downtown Vancouver, and they're hosting a grand opening this Friday that features Loowit beers such as Extraterrestrial ESB, Shadow Ninja IPA and Lucid Golden Ale, plus live music and food. Loowit was founded by s Devon Bray and Thomas Poffenroth and specializes in brewing small batch, hand crafted ales.

FoystonOregon Brewcrew member Michel Brown is an avid homebrewer and often teaches learn-to-brew classes at F.H. Steinbart.

LEARN TO HOMEBREW DAY

10 a.m. -2 p.m. Saturday, F.H.Steinbart Co., 231 S.E. 12th Ave.;

Homebrewing is easy and fun, and where better to get your introduction than at the venerable F.H. Steinbart Co,. which is probably the oldest homebrew supply shop in the country. Steinbart

hosts an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Learn to Homebrew Day Saturday that'll feature Steinbart employees and homebrewers from the Oregon Brew Crew teaching people the basics of brewing and doing a couple of demonstration brews. Also, check at your neighborhood homebrew shop to see if they're doing something similar for international Learn to Homebrew Day.

APEX EMBRACES THE DARKNESS

Saturday and Sunday, Apex, 1216 S.E. Division St.;

This weekend APEX celebrates the return of short days and long nights with 50 or so of the strongest, biggest beers available. The average a.b.v. for the draft list is just over 10.3%, so have a big breakfast and bring along some snacks. They've also expanded the smoking area outside just for this weekend so you can enjoy these big beers with one of the cigars they'll have for sale. The official draft list is still a work in progress, but follow them on Twitter @apexbar for updates.